Senators issue manifesto rejecting people's initiative

BBM open to political Cha-cha, but not at this time

- CECILLE SUERTE FELIPE

Senators unanimously signed a manifesto yesterday rejecting the "brazen attempt to violate the Constitution, through the people's initiatives" perpetrated allegedly by people identified with Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri read the twopage manifesto signed by all 24 members, including Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III.

The manifesto was a product of a three-hour all-senators caucus late Monday.

During the caucus, indignant senators castigated the House for allegedly plotting to emasculate the Senate in the latest Cha-cha drive through people's initiative, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva said.

"Today, the Senate once again stands as a bastion of democracy, as it rejects this brazen attempt to violate the Constitution, the country and our people. This Senate of the people will not allow itself to be silenced,” Zubiri said at the plenary yesterday.

“If this PI (people’s initiative) prospers, further changes to the Constitution can be done with or without the Senate’s approval or worse, even absent all the senators,” he said.

“Should Congress vote jointly in a constituent assembly, the Senate and its 24 members cannot cast any meaningful vote against the 316 members of the House of Representatives,” he added.

“We respect and recognize the people as our sovereign, with the right to call for constitutional amendments. We must, however, guard against any sinister and underhanded attempt to change the Constitution by exploiting our democratic process under the guise of a people’s initiative,” the Senate President said.

“The Constitution is the supreme law of the land. It is an enduring symbol of our democracy and the foundation of our nationhood and reflecting the consensus of our citizenry,” he pointed out.